A MUSSELBURGH meter reader faces losing his employment after he admitted a charge of driving his vehicle dangerously and causing injury to a man in Midlothian.

Paul Kilday was stopped at a four-way temporary traffic signal at Cockpen Road in Bonnyrigg but became impatient at the lack of movement regarding the lights.

Kilday, 58, decided to drive through the red light but soon collided with another vehicle which had properly gone through a green light at about 4.45pm on September 29 last year,

Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told that the incident saw Kilday’s car strike “the near side area of the vehicle and push it into a metal fence” and that “both vehicles had come to a rest”.

Witnesses said Kilday’s white vehicle had been travelling at 20-25mph and “had not slowed down” at the time of impact.

Police and an ambulance arrived shortly after 5pm and Kilday, of Stoneybank Court, provided a negative breath test.

The court heard that the driver of the vehicle hit by Kilday was taken to hospital as a precaution but was soon released.

Her passenger then attended the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh the following day after complaining of chest pains and was found to have suffered a fractured sternum. The break was diagnosed following an x-ray but the injury was said to be “not severe or life-threatening”.

Solicitor Sandy Raeburn told the court that his client was a meter reader and, though he was back at work, he had initially been suspended following the crash.

Mr Raeburn said a driving ban would impact heavily on Kilday as he was “unsure if that will affect his employment”.

The lawyer said that Kilday was waiting at the lights for about five minutes and “felt there was something wrong” with the traffic signal and “believed the lights to be broken”

He decided to drive through the red signal, resulting in the accident taking place.

Mr Raeburn added: “As a result, his lack of care, which he regrets, has put him in this situation. He understands he will lose his licence.”

Sheriff Chris Dickson issued Kilday with a 12-month driving ban and fined him a total of £625.